June 1, 2015

A group of home health care companies collectively known as “Friendship” and the companies’ owner Theophilus Egbujor agreed to pay $6.5 million to resolve allegations they improperly billed TennCare, Medicare and TRICARE for home health services.  Specifically, the government claimed Friendship billed TennCare for private duty nursing services that were furnished or supervised by a woman who was excluded from billing federal and state health care programs and that Friendship submitted required forms to TennCare that contained the forged signature of Friendship’s Director of Nursing.  The specific entities included in the settlement agreement are Friendship Home Healthcare, Inc., which has also done business as Friendship HealthCare System; Friendship Home Health, Inc., and Angel Private Duty and Home Health, which have also done business as Friendship Private Duty; and Friendship Home Health Agency, LLC.  The allegations first arose in a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Kay Flippo, a licensed practical nurse who previously worked for Friendship Home Healthcare, under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.  She will receive a yet-to-be determined whistleblower award. DOJ

Tagged in: FCA Federal, FCA State, Home Health and Hospice, Improper Medical Personnel, Medicaid, Medical Billing Fraud, Medicare, Other Government Health Programs, Provider Fraud, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,